Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded idea or kind of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This device was known as a shaduf and was used to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting beam which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
Cranes which were built in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam which was referred to as a boom. The boom was attached to a rotating base. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the enormous cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also designed to load and unload ships within major ports. Eventually, significant advancements in crane design evolved. For instance, a horizontal boom was added to and was referred to as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence greatly increasing the range of motion for the machinery. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes used animals and humans for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They can obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence complete larger jobs in less time.